Tractor



Patented Nov. l2, 1926. i y

UNITED` STATES ADDISON N.

j 1,605,095 F F IC PATEN cALKINs, or, QUINCY, ILLINOIS, nssmiton fro ELECTRIC WHEEL comT PAN Y, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS,A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS'.

` Tamron.

'Appncatien'med .necembe 21, 1925'. yserial Naseem.

stated is to produce a chainfor a tractor ot the character referred to 'in which thlelink sections are operativelyfconnected together in anovel and advantageous manner to produce between adjacent links a truss action preventing flexing ofthe chain upwardly as it` passes over the ground, but permitting relative pivotal. movement between the sections for -passage around the supporting members ln attainingthe object thus set forth I provideseparate sections adapted to be operatively connected .by links or bars in a manner such that a-truss is formed between each pair of adjacent sections. Each section is provided with a' rigid tapered arm construction lying in the plane of the chain sections. The'arms otl adjacent sections are interconnected by a lost motion construction which limits .flexing of the chain to a single direction out of the plane of the treads of the sections. construction of' the chain while imparting strength and durabilitythereto. I

In Athe accompanyingidrawings, Figure 1 is a framentary side elevational section of a tractorillustrating my inventionin its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is a line 242 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a ragmentaryinner plan view preferred form it is contemplated that vari` ous changes in the construction and arrangement illustrated and hereinafter descr1bed The aiml is to simplify the fragmentary horizontal sec# tion taken appro rimately in "the pla-neo I may be made by those skilled in the art withj out departing from the spirit and scope of .the invention as expressed in the appended claim.'

.The tractor comprises generally a central .frame `member 10 elongated in' form and providing bearings at opposite .ends in which -arc journalled the axles 11 of .two pairs of rotary supporting membersor'wheels 12.` The :trame member is" mountedv substantially midway between its ends to turn on a shaft 13 upon which the tractor frame prioper may be supported in the usual way.

- The en'dless belt or chain is composed of i a plurality of similar sections each comprising a tread portion or shoe 14 generally rectangular in form andi/of substantial width.

Extending inwardly from this slice is af frame structurev preferably formed integral with the shoe and 'comprising a pair of inclined arms 15, and a pair of inclined arms 16 projecting inwardly of the section. I Each set of'arms 15 merge with the opposite arms 16 Jforming in effect flatv taperedv arms designated 18 and 19, which -are .spaced apart in parallel relationship inthe plane of the chain. The apexes of the tapered arms are herein positioned centrally of the chain section and each is provided with a hole 2O through which a pivot bearing or .bolt 21 is fixed. The outer part of each arm at some point intermediate the hole 2O and the sectiony tread' 111 contains'another hole 22 which is herein shown in linewith the first hole perpendicular to the tread. A second pivot bearing or lpin bolt 23 is contained in the second hole.

Adjacent shoes are hinged together to .form

thechain. For the hinging joint there are formed interlocking bars on the shoes, there being three' on one edge as 24, 25 and-26, and two on the othergedgeas 27 and 28 which fit snugly into the two spaces between the three alined bearings 2 4, 25 and 26; A'piv'ot pin 29 passing through the alined bearings vserves ,to connect the tread portions of the adjacent link sections together. To hold the pivotpin 29 in'pl'ace, each of the"end-bear ings has formed at its. inner end a'pair of lugs 30 disposed on opposite sides of the bearing' apertures which. lugs are themselves apertured to receive a retaining pin w1 For convenience and for the purpse of `providing a rigid construction the arms 16 terminate in the bearing 25 while arms 15p risefrom the ends `of the bearings 27 and 28, the arms being slightly more separated are contracted so that they are coeXtensive with the respective bearings'24 and 26.-

The track portions are preferably cored out -as indicated at 33 (FiguG) to lessen the weight of the section. Suitable reinforcing ribs`34 may be provided on the inner face of the shoe 14 Fig. 6.

In addition to the provided between tread portions of the link sections there is provided aconnecting bar or link 35 having one end pivotally mounted on the pivot bolt 21 of one sectionand its other end pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 23 of the next or rearwardly adjacent section. Thus the bar is angularly disposed with respect to the tread portions of the link sections. The bar 35 is a simple link positioned between the spaced arms of ad jacentV shoes. One of the desired features of the present invention is to use a link which is straight and not bifurcated. For

this reason, corresponding pivots of adjacent sections are not joined by the link, the

i 'two pivots 2 1 and 23 being provided `to perm-it this construction, TheV inner` end swings on its pivot 21 while the -outer end slides on its pin 23 there being a slot 36 in this end. The position of the extreme end of the slot 36 relative to the pivot center of bolt 21 is such that the bar acts-as a limiting means to prevent hinging l ofthe adjacent shoes beyond the plane of the shoe treads,

Fig. 4 showing the parts occupying the limiting position. However, the links of the chain are free to hinge in the other directionso that the chain may freely vpass around the wheels 12.

To guide the link sections around the rotary supporting members 12, the Vtrack portions 32 of each section are provided with inwardly extendinglianges 3L at4 the inner edges ofthe track portions; and to cause the link sections to adhere snugly to the peripheries of the supporting members asA they pass around them, vmeans is provided operating to maintain the 'chain'under tension. AThus'the aXle 11 for one pair of supporting members 12 is Vmounted in a movablev bearing 38 slidabley in a bearing box 39, Fig. 1, at one end of the` frame mempivotal connection thus the apex and the tread in at one end in which ismounted a screw 41 having an adjusting nutr 42`thereon betweenfwhich and the bearing 38 is interposed a coiled spring 43, the latter passing through a suitableopeningin one' side of the bearing'box. This bonstruction while operating to. maintain the chain taut serves to reduce noise produced by the links' passing around the supporting members and also prevents injury to the parts by permitting one of the bearingvmembers' to yield relative to the other in the' event that a stone or other substance should rind its way between the 'supporting members and the chain.

It will be seen that in the plane relation of the chain sections adjacent shoes 14, their legs l5 and 16, and the connecting bars 35A form a truss member rigid against ilexure in-one direction. The arrangement of the parts in the manner described provides for a simple mechanical construction of the chain sections which affords great strength in the truss and which permits a compact assemblyiof the parts so that in the curved relation there is no interference between the adjacent moving members.`

I claim as my invention An endless chain of the character described having a series oflink sections each comprising a tread portion with spaced pivot bearings along opposite edges whereby the tread portions of adjacent sections may be pivotally connected together, each of said tread portions having an inwardly projecting tapered arm structure composed of two spaced parallel arms' and having its apex disposed substantially centrally of the section, two pivot bearings in each-arm structure alined centrally of the tread portion and having pivot pins-therein, one of said pivot bearings being located substantially atthe apex of -the arm structure, and the other spaced substantially midway between portion,v and `a connecting-bar pivoted substantially in. the apex of the arm structure of' one of said link sections, saidl bar extending between the parallel arms of an adjacent link section and pivoted ther`etoat a point below .the apex thereof, one end ofthe bar having a slot therein adapted to permit relative hinging movement, of the ,link sections in one direction, but to prevent such movement in the other direction.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto affixed my signature.

`vannrson n. caprins. 

